Door jamb adjusting tool

ABSTRACT

A door jamb adjusting tool has telescoping pair of tubes wherein the larger diameter tube has a plurality of holes, at precise intervals, into any one of which holes fits a biased pin which is part of the thinner tube so as to block the sliding motion relative to each tube in order to set a precise width. A pair of &lt;&lt;T&gt;&gt; bars is situated at opposite ends of the tool and a template is mechanically fastened to each &lt;&lt;T&gt;&gt; bar. Each template is configured and sized for a particular door jamb&#39;s size and configuration. In this manner, a very precise alignment of the base of a doorjamb can be obtained.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention

The invention relates generally to tools but more particularly a toolfor adjusting door jambs during installation.

2. Background of the invention

Adjusting door jambs during housing construction is a delicate processwhich involves careful adjusting, otherwise the door will not be set upstraight and may tend to swing open or closed by itself due to the factthat it was not set up correctly.

Over the years, inventors have developed tools to remedy this situationas well as other related problems. A sample of such inventions includes:

U.S. Pat. No. 408,496 by Macker describes a tool that includesextensible rulers as well as two lateral abutting members.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,192,418 by Hallberg also describes a tool that includesan extensible ruler as well as two lateral abutting members.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,603,880 by Dunn discloses a measuring tool for windowsand panels and includes a tube, an extension rod, and lateral abuttingmembers..

U.S. Pat. No. 2,806,495 by Merkle discloses a tool for doors thatincludes a tube, an extension rod, lateral abutting members.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,168,305 by Lee describes a tool for doors that includesa tube, a graduated extension rod, lateral abutting members.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,199,206 by Snapp describes a tool for holding door framethat includes tubes, extension rod, and lateral abutting members.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,259,367 by Squire a shoring tool comprising anextensible rod and lateral abutting members.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,851,868 by Lagasse describes a tool for doors thatincludes a tube, a graduated extension rod, lateral abutting members.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,829,727 by Kazura describes a tool for doors thatincludes a rod and lateral abutting members.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,036 by Stanley discloses a tool for doors having twosliding rules.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,175 by Johnston discloses a telescoping measuringtool having various graduated segments as well as two distal referencerods.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,085,434 by Mitchell discloses a telescoping measuringtool having graduated segments.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,658,753 by Tatarnic discloses a fence post positioningtool that includes a graduated rod and an extension rod.

U.S. design Pat. No. D287944 by Hewston describes a measuring toolhaving an extensible ruler lateral abutting members.

Some of the tools of the prior art have several components that arerather large, unwieldy, and complex to set up. Moreover the means usedfor sliding the components so as to protract or retract the tool allowsfor continuous extension which gives fractional measurements that,although with the use of indicias on the tool itself, as disclosed insome inventions, are imprecise as the securing means which blocks thesliding of the components may allow for shifting. In the case of doorjambs, construction standards for doorways are in set inches, genrally28, 30, 32, 34, not 33 and ¼ or other such fractional measurements.Another important aspect of the setting of door jambs besides the widthis alignment, indeed, one wants one side of the door jamb to be in linewith the other side so that when the door is shut, it will be abuttingthe stopper trim continuously on its three sides. This cannot beachieved if the jambs are set askew.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known devices nowpresent in the prior art, the present invention, which will be describedsubsequently in greater detail, is to provide objects and advantageswhich are:

To provide for a door jamb adjusting tool that is practical and easy touse.

To provide for a door jamb adjusting tool that is small for easycarrying. is simple in construction yet precise.

To provide for a door jamb adjusting tool that gives secure presetadjustments.

To provide for a door jamb adjusting tool that is easily convertible soas to fit to any width or thickness of door jamb.

To provide for a door jamb adjusting tool that properly aligns the baseof the jambs so taht both sides are aligned.

To attain these ends, the present invention generally comprises atelescoping pair of tubes wherein the larger diameter tube has aplurality of holes, at precise intervals, into any one of which holesfits a biased pin which is part of the thinner tube so as to block thesliding motion relative to each tube in order to set a precise width. Apair of <<T>> bars is situated at opposite ends of the tool and atemplate is mechanically fastened to each <<T>> bar. Each template isconfigured and sized for a particular door jamb's size andconfiguration. In this manner, a very precise alignment of the base of adoorjamb can be obtained.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofthat follows may be better understood, and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additionalfeatures of the invention that will be described hereinafter and whichwill form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Forexample, although doorways are primarily discussed, windows, archwaysand other such openings could benefit from the use of such a tool if aframe is required. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology andterminology employed herein are for the purpose of description andshould not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application. The abstract is neither intended to define theinvention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is itintended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with thevarious features of novelty which characterize the invention, arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1 a-b Isometric view of the tool in context, with a close-up viewof the tool in 1 b.

FIGS. 2 a-b Top view of the tool setting a ddor jamb, with a close-upview of the tool in 2 b.

FIG. 3 a Isometric exploded view of the tool and its various components.

FIG. 3 b Detail view of the biased pin in context.

FIGS. 4 abcd Isometric views of various sizes of templates.

FIG. 5 Top view of the graduated rod.

FIG. 6 Top view of the telescoping rod.

FIG. 7 Isometric view of the biased pin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A door jamb adjusting tool (10) generally comprises a telescoping pairof tubes wherein a larger diameter tube (12) slidingly engages over aninner tube (14). The larger diameter tube (12) has a plurality of holes(16) into any one of which fits a biased pin (18), which is mechanicallyattached to the inner tube (14), so as to block the sliding motionbetween the tubes (12, 14). Such biased pin and holes arrangement iswell known and won't be further discussed. A predetermined width can beobtained by sliding and locking the tubes (12, 14) at the desiredmeasurement. Depending upon the profile of a given door jamb (20), aspecific pair of template (22) is mechanically fastened to <<T>> bars(24) perpendicularly located at the opposite ends of the door jambadjusting tool (10). The mechanical fasteners (25) can be screws or wingnuts or even frictionally engaging pins, llo of which being mechanicalequivalents. Templates (22) are <<L>> shaped with one part beingmechnically fastened to the (( T )) bar (24) and the other havingwinglets (26, 26′). One winglet (26) is set at the edge of the jamb (20)while the other winglet (26′) is set on the edge of a stopper trim (28)opposite the edge of the jamb (20) as seen more particularly on FIG. 2b. Because of the orthogonality of the door jamb adjusting tool (10)setting it up as illustrated and described insures a proper alignment.

Because there are a multitude of possible door width, including twindoors, a long and a short inner tube (14, 14′) respectively, as shown inFIG. 3 a, are preferable. As well, there are many possible template (22)sizes as ber FIGS. 7 a-d which can be easily and quickly substituted.

As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of thepresent invention, the same should be apparent from the abovedescription. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the mannerof usage and operation will be provided.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, toinclude variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and mannerof operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obviousto one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to thoseillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification areintended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

1. A door jamb adjusting tool comprising: a larger diameter tubeslidingly engaging over an inner tube in a telescoping relation; saidlarger diameter tube having a plurality of holes and into any one ofwhich said holes fits a biased pin; said biased pin being mechanicallyattached to said inner tube so as to block sliding motion between saidlarger diameter tube and said inner tube; a <<T>> bar situated at thedistal end of said larger diameter tube and said inner tube; a templatebeing mechnically fastened to said <<T>> bar; said template havingwinglets.
 2. A doorjamb adjusting tool as in claim 1 wherein: said <<T>>bars being perpendicularly located at opposite ends of said door jambadjusting tool.
 3. A door jamb adjusting tool as in claim 1 wherein:said template being <<L>> shaped with one part being mechanicallyfastened to the <<T>> bar and the other having winglets.
 4. A door jambadjusting tool having the following method of use: said door jambadjusting tool being protracted to the desired width by sliding andlocking tubes at a desired measurement; a specific pair of template ismechanically fastened to <<T>> bars; each said template having itsequivalent winglet on the other template set at the edge of a jamb bymoving said jamb so that it fits and both templates have their oppositewinglets set on the edge of a stopper trim opposite the edge of saidjamb.